"But the thought of being useful!"
"Yes, and the thought——but here is Susie."
Susie was the friend who taught singing. Claudia thought she had never seen a woman look more exhausted; but Claudia knew so little of life.
"You have had a long day, my dear," said Babette, as Susie threw herself into a chair; "it is your journey to the poles, isn't it?"
"To the poles?" said Claudia.
"Yes; this is the day she has to be at a Hampstead school from 9.30 till 12.30, and at a Balham school from 2.30 till 4. It's rather a drive to do it, since they are as far as the poles asunder."
"Still," said Claudia, "railway travelling must rest you."
"Not very much," said Susie, "when you travel third class and the trains are crowded."
"But it must be so nice to feel that you are really filling a useful position in the world."
"I don't know that I am," said Susie, rather wearily. "A good many of my pupils have no ear, and had far better be employed at something else."